# Wilhelm Wanscher

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**Wilhelm Wanscer** (21 April 1802 – 4 December 1882) was a [Danish](/source/Denmark) paper merchant and art collector, remembered above all for his associations with the philosopher [Søren Kirkegård](/source/S%C3%B8ren_Kirkeg%C3%A5rd) and some of the leading [Danish Golden Age](/source/Danish_Golden_Age) artists. He was the father of surgeon [Oscar Wanscher](/source/Oscar_Wanscher) and industrialist [Axel Wanscher](/source/Axel_Wanscher), grandfather of art historian [Vilhelm Wanscher](/source/Vilhelm_Wanscher) and great-grandfather of the designer [Ole Wanscher](/source/Ole_Wanscher).

## Early life and education

Wanscher was born on 21 April 1802 in [Copenhagen](/source/Copenhagen), the son of Christopher Wanscher (1659–1841) and Karen Smidt (1867–1841). His father was a paper merchant based in [Gothersgade](/source/Gothersgade).[1]

## Career

Wanscher was licensed as a wholesale merchant (*grosserer*) in 1833 and started his own business the same year. It was based in the old Weisenhuset building at [Købmagergade](/source/K%C3%B8bmagergade) 44 (then Rosenborg Quarter, No. 6).[2] He was the first external distributor of paper products from [Strandmøllen](/source/Strandm%C3%B8llen,_Rudersdal_Municipality) north of Copenhagen. He was one of the largest suppliers of paper products to the Danish state. His other customers included the newspaper *Adresseavisen* and the book printer [Bianco Luno](/source/Bianco_Luno).[3]

## Personal life

Wanscher married Karen Johanne Juliane Wegener (1816–1879) on 19 May 1834 in Værløse Church.[1] She was the daughter of educator [Jens Ernst Wegener](/source/Jens_Ernst_Wegener) and Birgitte Marie Bindesbøll. Her maternal uncle was the architect [Gottlieb Bindesbøll](/source/Gottlieb_Bindesb%C3%B8ll).[1] Wanscher was the owner of a substantial art collection. A number of the leading painters of the time, including [Constantin Hansen](/source/Constantin_Hansen), Jørgen [Roed](/source/Roed) and [Wilhelm Marstrand](/source/Wilhelm_Marstrand), frequently visited his home.[4]

He also had a friendly relation with the philosopher [Søren Kierkegaard](/source/S%C3%B8ren_Kierkegaard). He was introduced to him by Kierkegaard's cousin (and his own neighbor, Rosenborg Quarter No. 7[5]), Johan Christian Lund (1799–1875), a silk merchant and politician, from whom he rented the country house [Tolvkanten](/source/Store_Mariendal) north of Copenhagen.[1] A few years later Wanscher had his own country house built in [Hellerup](/source/Hellerup). In the early 1850s, he also bought a piece of land on [Gammel Kongevej](/source/Gammel_Kongevej) from Bianco Luno, formerly part of Luno's [Christianshvile](/source/Bianco_Lunos_All%C3%A9) estate, and used it for the construction of an imposing apartment building.[6]

## Death and legacy

Wanscher died on 4 December 1882. The funeral took place on 9 December in the [Church of the Holy Ghost](/source/Church_of_the_Holy_Ghost,_Copenhagen).[1] His art collection was sold at auction after his death.[7] He was survived by seven of his children:[1]

- Karen Johanne Marie Wanscher (1836–1912)
- Nanna Wanscher (1838–1915), was married to Carl Alexis Henrik Bernhard Videbech
- Wilhelmine Wanscher (1840–1892), was married to Hans Wilhelm Berg
- Wilhelm Wanscher (1842–1901)
- Helene Wanscher (1844–1912)
- [Oscar Wanscher](/source/Oscar_Wanscher) (1846–1906) was a prominent surgeon. He was married to Johanne Margrethe, daughter of [Christopher Hage](/source/Christopher_Hage).[8]
- [Axel Wanscher](/source/Axel_Wanscher) (1848–1877) was a prominent industrialist. He was married to Arngoth Dorothea Petronella Christine Laub (cousin of [Thomas Laub](/source/Thomas_Laub))[4] and the father of art historian [Vilhelm Wanscher](/source/Vilhelm_Wanscher), grandfather of designer [Ole Wanscher](/source/Ole_Wanscher).[4]

Wanscher's building on Gammel Kongevej (today Gammel Kongevej 137B-D) is now hidden from the street by a newer apartment building, Fammel Kongevej 136–38, constructed by [Albert Nicolai Schioldann](/source/Albert_Nicolai_Schioldann) in 1855.[9]

In 1912, Nanna Wanscher published her childhood memoirs as *Minder fra min barndom og ungdom*.[10]

## References

1. ["Familien Wilhelm Wanscher/Karen Johanne Juliane Wegener"](http://www.mortenclausen.dk/GEDHT/fam008xx/fam00892.htm) (in Danish). *mortenclausen.dk*. Retrieved 13 October 2022.

1. ["I. Chr. Petersens Papirhandel"](https://tekniskkulturarv.dk/book/3c52e838-1b55-4237-8038-1ea4d211384f/i-chr-petersens-papirhandel-1845-1920.pdf) (in Danish). *tekniskkulturarv.dk*. Retrieved 14 October 2022.

1. ["Oplysninger om Wilhelm Wanscher"](http://www.mortenclausen.dk/GEDHT/noter/ni2374.htm) (in Danish). mortenclausen.dk. Retrieved 16 June 2022.

1. ["Vilhelm Wanscher"](https://biografiskleksikon.lex.dk/Vilhelm_Wanscher) (in Danish). [Dansk Biografisk Leksikon](/source/Dansk_Biografisk_Leksikon). Retrieved 16 June 2022.

1. ["Folketælling - 1845 - Johan Christian Lund"](https://www.danishfamilysearch.dk/cid6145752) (in Danish). *Danishfamilysearch.dk*. Retrieved 8 October 2022.

1. ["Havehuset bag Gammel Kongevej 136-138"](https://kbhbilleder.dk/frb-arkiv/7348) (in Danish). *kbhbilleder.dk*. Retrieved 13 October 2022.

1. ["Fortegnelse"](https://www.kunstbib.dk/objekter/auktionskataloger/Auk_1346.pdf) (in Danish). *kunstbib.dk*. Retrieved 13 October 2022.

1. ["Oscar Wanscher"](https://biografiskleksikon.lex.dk/Oscar_Wanscher) (in Danish). [Dansk Biografisk Leksikon](/source/Dansk_Biografisk_Leksikon). Retrieved 16 June 2022.

1. ["Gl. Kongevej 136-138 – det hemmelige kunstnerkollektiv"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200103220345/https://stadsarkivet.frederiksberg.dk/blog/gl-kongevej-136-138-det-hemmelige-kunstnerkollektiv) (in Danish). Frederiksberg City Archives. Archived from [the original](https://stadsarkivet.frederiksberg.dk/blog/gl-kongevej-136-138-det-hemmelige-kunstnerkollektiv) on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.

1. ["Københavnererindring fra 1800-tallet"](https://bibliotek.kk.dk/nyheder/anbefaling/koebenhavnererindring-fra-1800-tallet) (in Danish). Københavns Biblioteker. Retrieved 2 January 2020.

## External links

- [Wilhelm Wanscher](https://www.geni.com/people/Wilhelm-Wanscher/6000000022248971853) at geni.com
- [Catalogue](https://www.kunstbib.dk/objekter/auktionskataloger/Auk_1346.pdf) of Wanscher's art collection

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Wilhelm Wanscher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Wanscher) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Wanscher?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.